As the F1 grid prepares to compete in the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix in Nevada, the leading position of the Constructors’ and Drivers’ standings are settled. Max Verstappen and Red Bull have secured their second-consecutive Constructors’ Championships, and Verstappen has already won his third consecutive Drivers’ Championship.
However, that does not imply that Las Vegas will not be the site of some intriguing confrontations the following week. The three-way contest for seventh place in the Constructors’ Championship among Alfa Romeo, Williams, and AlphaTauri is one example of the captivating competitions that occur across the field. Additionally, the battle for fourth position in the Constructors’ remains between Aston Martin and McLaren.
But most interestingly, longtime rivals Mercedes and Ferrari are separated by a mere 20 points in the race for second place. At this time, Mercedes is in the lead; nevertheless, with the Vegas and Abu Dhabi GPs remaining, anything could happen.
Ferrari Has Two More Chances
Both Ferrari drivers encountered technical difficulties throughout the 2023 Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Carlos Sainz, who finished sixth overall, expressed frustration over the team radio.
Charles Leclerc, on the opposite side of the garage, could not even begin the race due to technical difficulties that caused him to wreck his Ferrari during the formation lap.
George Russell retired due to combustion issues, and Lewis Hamilton dropped from the P5 starting position to the P8 position; this development was even more favourable for Ferrari.
Twenty points currently separate the two teams competing for second place in the Constructors’ Championship. Ferrari possesses a two-race remaining schedule that affords it an opportunity to surpass the Silver Arrows.
In contrast, Mercedes does not typically experience such poor weekends. According to Toto Wolff, the principal of the Mercedes team, the 2023 Sao Paulo Grand Prix was the team’s worst weekend in thirteen years.
Even though the championship has already been determined in Japan, Formula One enthusiasts can anticipate the intensifying rivalry between Mercedes and Ferrari over the season’s final two races.
Mercedes vs Ferrari: From a Betting Perspective
As Toto Wolff highlighted, Mercedes’ outing in Brazil hasn’t been a common occurrence, and we shouldn’t expect similar results moving forward. Such a sentiment is also supported by odds available NZ sports betting markets:
Constructors Championship Winner Odds (Without Red Bull)
| Team | Odds |
| Mercedes | 1/4 |
| Ferrari | 11/4 |
Heading Into Vegas: Ferrari or Mercedes
In contrast to Mercedes, Ferrari has performed exceptionally well in recent races, which ought to position them favourably for the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix.
Undoubtedly, numerous additional factors will also be influential. Given that this is a brand-new course for every driver, the rate at which they adjust to the layout will significantly impact the outcome. The anticipated low temperatures in Las Vegas may also be a factor, as drivers may require additional time to position the tyres within the correct interval.
However, with the current data, at least for the time being, Ferrari appears to have the upper hand heading into Las Vegas.
The 2024 Battle is Underway
At this late point of the year, new developments in technology on the cars are virtually nonexistent, as nine of the ten teams at the Brazilian GP refrained from making any modifications to their vehicles, devoting their attention instead to the year 2024.
The recent resignation of technical director Mike Elliott from Mercedes, which occurred in a job exchange with chief technical officer James Allison (who regained the position he vacated at the end of 2021), must be interpreted as the conclusive and predictable consequence of the unsuccessful W13 project from the previous year and the W14’s continued implementation of the zero sidepod aerodynamic concept.
By appointing Allison back to the technical directorship, Toto Wolff aims to effectively sever ties with the previous technical leadership of the team. However, his primary objective is to establish the groundwork for the development of the W14, as the last concept was abandoned at the Monaco Grand Prix.
With 2024 as its primary target date, it was prudent for Mercedes to commit to developing the W14 to gain a more comprehensive comprehension of the issues associated with the original car concept and to distance the W15 concept significantly from it.
It was not merely a realignment of primary technical obligations; it can also be asserted that the personnel who designed the W13 under Elliott’s guidance, divulging the philosophy and the choice to proceed with the defective concept for the W14, did not, in fact, contribute significantly to the advancements made during this season, albeit inconspicuously and behind the scenes.
Ferrari vs. Mercedes in 2024
No more departures of prominent individuals from the team were seen; nonetheless, there has been a redistribution of responsibilities within the engineering hierarchy.
This can be dubbed as an “unspoken revolt” that is precisely coordinated in nature, aiming to bring about a revival of performance at the most elevated levels in preparation for the upcoming season.
The W14 has achieved promising results on the track following significant upgrade packages, the most recent of which was the introduction of a new floor in the United States. However, these results do not fully compensate for the car’s shortcomings, especially regarding aerodynamic efficiency.
While acknowledging that the W14 still had unfinished business, it has appeared since the summer break that the Allison-led staff was on the right track to extract immediate value from the vehicle while laying the groundwork for the following season.
This presents a thought-provoking juxtaposition with Ferrari in 2024, as Wolff’s selection deviates from Ferrari’s continuity about its principal technical staff.
Enrico Gualtieri continues to serve as the technical director for the power unit, while Enrico Cardile continues to be the TD for the chassis and automobile concept. This stability may result in more consistent and tangible outcomes.
Therefore, the primary challenge between Mercedes and Ferrari is not whether they will contend for second place in the Constructors’ Championship this year but rather whether they will confront each other the following year, possibly against a formidable third-wheel team like McLaren.
